Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1887-12-15

, stu rough, the Indians had less opportu
nifty for attacking us and getting avay
BEFORE dark We camped on anotl,sr dr.,
creek, and in company with q conrad,
|, l went shert distance down the creel
bed to look for water. While doing 90 ",
were rewarded with Q singular sight in
those surroundings, which suggested !
possible habitation of an extinct people
This peculiarly Consisted Of pile Of
slabs AMI several logs cut in exact length.
as seen around any saw mill, but all pet.
rified the hardest kind Of stone. As wa
returned to camp Illuminating over our dis.
covery, We saw the doctors attending the
Blackfoot guide, who had been shot. The
ball had passed clear through his body
and he had bard time Of 1t. Ks usual
the cover OF night afforded the Indians a
chance for more deyiltry, and confined
troubling the pickets all night. and Keep
most Of the command awake. After three
days more Of marching over a rough
country devoid of vegetation, with the
monotony relieved occasionally by some
Indian escapade, We reached the famous
Yellowstone river. During this time the
horses and mules became nearly played
Tor want Of feed and water, and on the
llth we had to shoot IS head. Our ratiops
were also reduced, and il was with relief
we saw the river. But there xas no grass
for the horses. the beautiful bot,um being
nearly rs bare as the clay hills we had
passed over The notorious crasshopper
had been ahead Of us. We wsrs consider.
ably pleased to find q couple Of govern.
ment steamboats, waiting for us With pro.
visions and supplies for the Command.
The horses were that day compelled to eat
ysung cottonwood trees, but the next day
giass was found in the timer sIong the
river bank. While the horses we're eating
and regaining strength, a squad OF us |
started out to examine the picturesque I
country and look for game. The most in
teresting thing We saw was vein of coal
t. elve feet thick cropping odt the side of
canon. 1t looked like the PENNSYLVANIA
hard coal, and caused no little speculation
among as to its value in civilization.
When we returned to camp the comuari
was preparing to cross the river. Our leS,
gage. saddles, etc, were taken OVER on the
boats, while we swan our horses through
the swift current. The entire night was
taken up in crossing the river, when we
down the Yellowstone, ending
luxuriant patches Of grass on the bottom
lands, and Occasionally killing deer and
elk for amusement and food. On the 18th
We reached the mouth OF the Yellowstone
aid crossed the Missouri rser to F..
Union, where We rested short time.
Resuming our journey mp the Missouri
md north about 100 miles from Fl. Union
without much variation from Gnr every
lay life Of marching through an uncivil-
led country, ii was finally announced we
lad penetrated the wilderness far enough.
On the Sd Of September we turned to
he right and began working our way
back with much less trouble than in going
n q straight line for IT Rice. reaching the
iiissouri on the 9th eight miles below the
Z. VII ire We canped. During the backward
rip We passed through thousands,,of bu ia =
0, killing all We could use. After going
nto camp Near Fl. Rice we received our
rst mail since leaving there on the 18th
Z July, which brought back thoughts Of
utilization and loved ones at home But
hess happy thoughts we're Of brief dura-
ION for some Of the boys. as we we're
pom ordered to fall into line for the pur.
ose Of getting volunteers to go to the re-
of OF on immigrant train besieged by the
adams about 200 miles west Of ne. The ,
ext morning 1000 volunteers started to
he rescue, while the rest Of Us remained
! camp. We learned those immigrants :
ere from Minnesota, and endsayored to
zach Fl. Rice TO accompany our expedi-
the Yellowstone. but failed to get there Il
! time. The train was in charge OF Capt. ei
isk, and started on our trail with only +,
rty, i've soldiers furnished 1t Fl. Rice. A
hen near the Bad Lands they were eur
'unded by the Indians and could move
neither direction. After being hcl'
ere a few days tso soldiers succeeded
stealing through the Indians one dark
ght, taking their horses with them, and
ads for the Fort, reporting the condition
the Immigrants. While Capt. Fisk and
ain were thus besieged an Indian came ,
1t toward them one day, stuck q stick in
10 ground with piece Of paper attached
1t, and then retreated. The Captain
mt out for the paper and found il to be
tier from white woman, whom the
ldians had in captivity. They kept up q .
for some time. the reds
ictatiDg to her what to write asa she
nting what she pleased. They proposed
trade her to Fisk, and the Captain Of.
red them two wagons loaded with pro-
sions and the mule teams hitched to
,sm for the woman. The Indians agreed
the trade, bat stipulated the property
, hrst placed IN their pessssnou, when
icy would deliver up the woman. This
le Captain refused TO do, knowing only
20 well that the willy Indians would not
llhll their part Of the contract. So the
ade was not made. The immigrants
ere soon relieved by our boys and re-
lrned with them to Ft. Rice.
While the man command laid in camp
,thipg particular transpired until the
oming Of Sept. 2lst. when some Indians !.
ipped down gulch near camp and II
ade away with five or six horses that had
cen picksted out, Several squads started m m
1t aft. r them, the Indians as usual scat oi
ring. Sergeant Murphy and two others
Co. l.. singled ont fllse Indians and
II into one OF The traps the red devils Pr
ere always planning. The three indis. Of
eet soldiers were coaxed about ten miles M,
ay from camp By the prospect Of captur-